Clasp



(No Model.)

J. J. UNBEHEND.

N nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n nnnnnnnnnn nnnnn c UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB J. UNBEHEND, OF SYRACUSE, NE\V YORK.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,356, dated September 15, 1885.

Application filed July 1'3, 1885. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB J. UNBEHEND,

of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has reference to the class of spring-clasps which are designed chiefly for on said supporting-plate, said tongue being slotted part way lengthwise, so as to render it laterally elastic, and being provided with lateral projections constituting cams which impinge the adjacent edges of the supportingplate, and thereby impart the spring action to the clasp. The depressed or recessed extensions in the supporting-plate being folded over the pintle, and thus connecting'the tongue to the supporting-plate, and the forward projection of the depressed surface of the supportingplate affords a bearing for the attaching-plate, preventing the latter from falling under the supporting-plate when the tongue is released.

It consists, also, in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more specifically described, and pointed out in the claims.

In specifying my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts through all of the views.

Figure I is aplan view of the improved clasp complete. Fig. II is an edge view thereof. Fig. III is a plan view of the blank from which the tongue-supporting plate is formed. Fig. IV shows a top plan view of the tongue supporting plate folded in position for confining the pintle. Fig. V is a detached view of the tle.

tongue, showing the configuration of the same with the recesses for the pintle. Fig. VII is a top plan view of the tongue, showing the side projections and the pintle in place.

A represents the transversely-slotted plate which is attached to one of the straps or quarters of the shoe, and interlocks with the tongue hinged on a plate which is attached to the other strap or quarter.

B is the tongue-supporting plate formed of a metal. blank, as best shown in Fig. IIIof the drawings. The blank has forward extensions b b. These extensions are recessed, as shown in said Fig. III, said recesses or depressions extending only part way across the extensions, the object of so constructing the recesses being to form a compact seat for the pintle, leaving the outer edges tight and close. The extensions b b are folded on the line b, so as to leave a forward extension upon which the attaching-plate bears when thetwo are combined, and is thereby prevented from dropping down under the supporting-plate when the device is 1n use.

The tongue 0 is formed of an elongated piece of metal slotted part way its length, so as to form elongated extensions at or near the forked end thereof.

Depressions or recesses c c equidistant from each other are provided, said depressions terminating in their transverse length in curved side projections, c c;

In the inner depression or recess, a, a pintle, d, is placed, and the end of the tongue is bent on the line 0' over the pintle, so that the pinof the lapped end of the tongue, which lies contiguous with the main portion thereof. The tongue having previously been formed in its proper shape is then placed with the end of the pintle resting in the depressed seat of the supporting-plate, and the forward extension thereof bent around, as previously described.

In bending the extension of the supportingplate around the pintle, I find it preferable to curve the bend well, as represented at b, Fig. 1

II, as a sharp angular bend has a tendency to weaken the metal.

As has been explained, the forward extension of the supporting-plate affords a bearing upon which the attaching-plate rests when the tle comes within the depressions on both parts Y two plates are connected together by fastening the clasp, and this construction prevents the usual slotted plate from falling under the supporting-plate when the tongue is released from its hold on the parts.

The curved side projections, c c', on the tongue around the pintle serve as cams to contract laterally the tongue as it swings on its pintle and holds the parts taut and firmly in place in operating the clasp.

It is to be understood, of course, that the tongue is constituted of spring metal, or of metal having thereqnisite elasticity to afford sufiicient spring for the purpose.

It is to be observed that spring action secured in the exemplified construction by slotting the tongue partway lengthwise,,and forming the cams on the sides thereof adjacent to the pintle, may also be secured by providing the supporting-plate with lengthwise slots 0, (shown by the dotted lines in Figs. III and IV,) and providing, of course, cam-surfaces against which the slotted tongue or the angular edges of the tongue may come in contact with and force the supporting-plate to extend and contract laterally in operating the buckle. I do not therefore limit my invention to the exact construction andarrangement illustrated, since the other embodies the same principle in reverse order.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure, by Letters Patent, is, 1

1. The within-described spring-clasp, consisting of the slotted plate A, supporting-plate B, having recessed extensions b b folded over the pintle d, and projecting forward of the pintle, and the tongue 0, slotted part way lengthwise, and having side projections, 0, all combined and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a spring-clasp, the combination of the supporting-plate having recessed forward extensions b b, the tongue O, having recesses or depressions c a, one of said parts having the lengthwise slot 0, and curved side projections, c, and connected together by the pintle d, seated in the depressions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and afli'xed my seal,in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 8th day of July, 1885.

JACOB J. UNBEHEND. n 8.]

Witnesses:

FREDERIOK H. GIBBS, E. QCANNON. 

